STUDENT SUCCESS | CREATING BALANCE | THE INVESTOR | ATHLETICS TOP 10 FALL–WINTER 2019–2020 FALL–WINTER WOMEN WOMEN in STEM NORTH CAROLINA A&T MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2019-2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIRWOMAN Venessa Harrison CHANCELLOR Harold L. Martin Sr. ’74/’76 CHIEF OF STAFF Erin Hill Hart ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Todd H. Simmons EDITOR Sandra M. Brown PRODUCTION Kimberly “Nikki” Pressley, Graphic Design Village Printing, Printing Services WRITERS Jamie Crockett Tonya Dixon ‘04 Brian M. Holloway ’97 Jordan M. Howse Kelly S. Morgan Jackie Torok PHOTOGRAPHERS Natalie “Naee” Anderson ’18 Ezekiel K. Best/Best Perspectives Kevin L. Dorsey (Athletics) Erin Mizelle (Athletics) James F. Parker (CAES) NORTH CAROLINA A&T MAGAZINE is published biannually by the Office of University Relations for alumni and friends of the university. All editorial correspondence should be directed to the editor at the address/email below. EDITORIAL OFFICES North Carolina A&T Magazine Office of University Relations 1601 East Market Street Greensboro NC 27411 Phone: 336-256-0863 Email: [email protected] Postage paid at Greensboro, NC POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Advancement Services North Carolina A&T State University 1601 East Market Street WINTER WISHES IN AGGIELAND Greensboro, NC 27411 North Carolina A&T student officers and volunteers take a break from spreading holiday cheer and distributing North Carolina Agricultural and Technical toboggans to those attending the university’s 2019 State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Winter Wishes in Aggieland on Nov. 29. In its third year Commission on Colleges. | N.C. A&T does not discriminate against any person on the partnering with Guilford County Department of Social basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, Services, the N.C. A&T family granted every gift wish for genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, 200 children in foster care this holiday season. or any other basis protected by law. | N.C. A&T is an AA/EEO and ADA compliant institution. CONTENTS AGGIE ATHLETICS 42 TOP ON THE COVER 10 34 Clockwise from top left: Lyubov Kurkalova, Alesia Ferguson, Stephanie Luster-Teasley and Mulumebet Worku STUDENT SUCCESS DEPARTMENTS 04 CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS 32 22 ATHLETICS 52 ALUMNI NOTES THE INVESTOR 58 PEOPLE BEHIND THE 58 SCHOLARSHIPS GREATEST HOMECOMING ON EARTH 48 38 CREATING BALANCE 2 N.C. A&T MAGAZINE NCAT.EDU 3 CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS MAKING NEWS N.C. A&T’S SCHOOL OF NURSING RANKED NO. 5 AMONG BEST NURSING PROGRAMS AT HBCUS FOR 2020 NURSING SCHOOL HUB N.C. A&T REMAINS NO. 1 PUBLIC HBCU AND IS RANKED AMONG NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES SIX YEARS North Carolina Agricultural and Among national universities, 2014, when the university first RUNNING, N.C. Technical State University moved U.S. News provided a numerical earned this distinction, enrollment up in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking for only the top 292 has grown by 17%. A&T IS USA’S Best Colleges 2020 rankings, campuses. A&T moved into the LARGEST HBCU earning recognition as the nation’s ranked category in an 11-way tie While many HBCUs have UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM No. 1 public historically black for No. 281 among such campuses experienced growth over the college or university (HBCU) and as Florida Atlantic University, past several years, A&T’s national breaking into the numerical North Dakota State University recognition for excellence in rankings among national and the University of Missouri-St. STEM education plus a focused universities for the first time. Louis. Growth in A&T’s peer score, effort on growing enrollment retention and graduation rates, in specific areas has helped the In the ranking of HBCUs, North entering SAT and ACT scores university expand at a faster rate. Carolina A&T rose to No. 6, up and alumni giving, helped the The university drew nearly 25,000 one place from last year’s listing, university’s ascent. applications for admission this and No. 1 among publics. The school year—a record for A&T and A&T’S ONLINE university’s peer score within Following an official count from a 6,000 application increase over MBA PROGRAM that ranking was second among the University of North Carolina last year. all HBCUs, with only Spelman System, more than 12,500 RANKED AMONG College scoring higher. As recently students now call Aggieland home as 2016–17, N.C. A&T ranked 10th and is A&T’s largest enrollment to THE BEST IN overall on the highly competitive date. The university remains the THE NATION list and No. 2 among publics. largest HBCU in the nation. Since COLLEGE CONSENSUS 25 BEST VALUE ONLINE MBA PROGRAMS 2019 4 N.C. A&T MAGAZINE NCAT.EDU 5 CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS MAKING NEWS ERIC will affirm the university’s TMCF HONORS CHANCELLOR position in the marketplace by providing the necessary space MARTIN FOR EDUCATIONAL to accommodate the increasing number of engineering students and to support their respective LEADERSHIP research interests. Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. received the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) “Creating environments in which Educational Leadership Award at the innovation and cutting-edge organization’s 32nd Anniversary Awards Gala in discoveries are nurtured and Washington, D.C., on Oct. 19. accelerated is important to all of us,” said COE dean, Robin N. “Harold raises the bar through his visionary Coger, Ph.D. “The Engineering leadership and innovative ideas at the helm of the Research and Innovation Complex largest publicly supported HBCU in the nation,” is designed with that goal in N.C. Senator Gladys Ashe Robinson, N.C. A&T Provost Beryl mind.” said TMCF president and CEO, Harry L. Williams. C. McEwen, Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. and College of Engineering Dean Robin N. Coger sign the uppermost beam for the Engineering Research and Innovation As an interdisciplinary and Martin was elected 12th chancellor of N.C. A&T Complex before it is hoisted in place during the topping in 2009. He previously led Winston-Salem State out ceremony on Nov. 5. multifunctional center for University (2000–06), and he was senior vice academics, research and president for academic affairs for the University of community engagement, the North Carolina System (2006–09) prior to being ERIC will provide the technology, named chancellor of A&T. His tenure at A&T has ERIC CONSTRUCTION environment and education been distinguished by a focus on long-range REACHES MILESTONE necessary to meet the global strategic planning and tactical leadership that challenges of the future. has dramatically improved N.C. A&T’s standing A milestone in the construction of attracts the most outstanding faculty, among the nation’s land-grant doctoral research The ERIC will host experiential the state-of-the-art Engineering students and staff and “expands our learning laboratories and studios, universities, as well as among historically black Research and Innovation Complex university’s possibilities. colleges and universities (HBCUs). distance learning facilities and (ERIC) was celebrated Nov. 5, with a modern learning spaces. In traditional topping out ceremony. “This is another addition to our With a fall enrollment of more than 12,500 addition, it will transform the university that contributes to the speed at which ideas are put into students, North Carolina A&T remains the nation’s The building is scheduled to open growth of the economy, meeting the largest HBCU for the fifth consecutive year. U.S. practice and in which knowledge in 2021. needs of our state and region,” Martin is transferred from academia to News & World Report rated A&T as the nation’s No. said. “The community’s expectations 1 public HBCU in its “Best Colleges 2020” report. industry and government. The university broke ground in and demands of the university are to A&T also remains North Carolina’s most affordable November 2018 for the four-story retain, attract and create jobs.” campus, according to Money magazine’s “Best Once completed, the ERIC will TMCF President and CEO Harry L. Williams (left) and N.C. A&T Chancellor 130,000-square foot building on the serve as a catalyst for short- and Colleges for Your Money 2019” rankings. These Harold L. Martin Sr. former site of the original Hayes- The ERIC will be an integral long-term economic growth results reflect intentional, steady growth under Taylor YMCA facility at Dudley and component of the College of across America that its fine work helps to support,” said Martin. and development, helping to the university’s strategic plan, A&T Preeminence: Market streets. It is being built using Engineering (COE)—the No. 1 “I am both humbled and more honored than I can express to foster partnerships with local Taking the Momentum to 2023, which projects a $90 million investment from the producer of undergraduate-level be recognized with TMCF’s Educational Leader Award. … This is and regional industries and a body of 14,000 students by its conclusion and Connect NC bond referendum, engineering degrees awarded to something that will inspire and energize me for years to come.” creating job opportunities that includes key performance indicators based on which state voters passed in 2016. African Americans in the nation—by directly benefit the entire local student success, affordability, diversity and more. establishing a pipeline of diverse Established in 1987, TMCF is the nation’s largest organization community, as companies seek to Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. STEM leaders. exclusively representing the black college community. meet the demands of tomorrow. “The work of the Thurgood Marshall College called the ERIC an “incredible Member-schools include publicly supported HBCUs and Fund has never been more important for the edifice” demonstrating N.C.